HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations (HBR Guide Series)

Choose the Right Type of Slide

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by endless possibilities as you’re creating slides, rest assured—all slides can be boiled down to the following types. Here’s how they work, and when you’ll use them.

Walk-in slide

This slide is already up when people enter the room. It creates the first impression. You may want it to display your company’s branding, for example, or an image that sets the tone for your presentation.

Title slide

Here’s where you show the title of your talk and (if you’re addressing an external crowd) your name, title, and company. Include a title slide even if you don’t state the title when you speak; it helps orient and focus the audience.

Navigation slide

This type of slide helps the audience see where ...